Radiation therapy for gestational trophoblastic disease

Radiation isn't often used to treat gestational trophoblastic (jeh-STAY-shuh-nul troh-fuh-BLAS-tik) disease (GTD), unless it has spread and is not responding to chemotherapy (chemo). Radiation may then be used to treat sites where the cancer may be causing pain or other problems. It may also be used when GTD has spread to the brain.

The type of radiation therapy most often used in treating GTD is called external beam radiation therapy. In this type of radiation therapy, the radiation is aimed at the cancer from a machine outside the body. Having this type of radiation therapy is much like having a diagnostic x-ray, except that each treatment lasts longer and the treatments are usually repeated daily over several weeks.

Side effects of radiation can depend on what area is treated and can include: